By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The new soccer coach at Union City High School isn’t necessarily a “new” coach in the program.
Travis VanHooser — an assistant for the Golden Tornadoes the past five seasons — has been elevated to head coach for the 2021-22 school year.
VanHooser will move up a seat in the coaching rotation, taking over for the only head coach the program has ever known – John Graham.
Graham was named Vice Principal at UCHS in the spring and elected to step away from all other duties to give his entire focus to his new administrative duties.
“Travis is an excellent choice and was the obvious one to take over the program,” Graham said. “He knows the kids. He’s been a part of what we’ve done in recent years, and I think he has a good vision of where we want the program to go.
“He’s very educated as far as fundamentals go, and he’s taken on a little more responsibility every year as far as the day-to-day operation of what we do. I feel really confident handing over the reins of the program to him.”
The Graham-VanHooser tandem led the Golden Tornadoes to the first-ever sectional berth in the nine-season history of the program in the recently completed 2021 season.
For his part, VanHooser believes he’s ready and is thankful for the opportunity.
“To watch what Coach Graham has done as he’s built the program from the ground up has been a great learning process. And to have been a small part of that in the last five years has given me confidence that I’m prepared to take over,” the new head coach claimed. “His will certainly be big shoes to fill, but I’m excited to get started.
“We’ll have a good nucleus from this past season’s team coming back, and I think there are some players coming over from the middle school program who’ll be able to help us – both quickly and in the long-term. I don’t expect a drop-off, and I think there are more good things and big things to come for Union City soccer.”
UC is 60-63-2 all-time, having won 10 or more matches three times, with a program-best 12 victories in 2015.